NS Families Information and FAQ

Throughout your journey on NationStates, you may have come across NationStates Families. You might have wondered what the heck it was, why all these strangers on the internet pretend to be in a fake family, and what it actually means for the nation simulator we love and hate together. You may have come across majestic (or self important) surnames, family crests, or even regions in which the family is integral to the power structure of the community.

And chances are, you thought it was pretty weird. A lot of people do.

But there are reasons why people band together to form what's generally referred to as "NationStates Family Roleplay." As weird as it gets, those of us in good families love the interactions and camaraderie it provides, and sometimes even the political influence one can earn. So rather than have NS Families be a part of this region, we've chosen to make them the reason for the region.

With that decision comes a responsibility: educating all of our new members on what it means to be in an NS family. So let's get started.

What is a NationStates Family?

The most common question has a simple answer: a NationStates family is a group of people who choose to identify or roleplay as a family as they play NationStates. Where it gets complicated is the why. Each family has its own motivations for why it exists, though there are a few common ones, and it's generally up to the head of that family to determine why it's being established. A few of the popular motivations are establishing a collective arrangement between a group of close friends, consolidating political power into known entities with a common goal, doing it for the lols, or because a region uses family as a major theme within its government. This is not a definitive list by any means, but it may give you a glimpse into the reasonings behind why this quirky bit of NationStates is so popular.

Here in Edlhus we made the NationStates family the integral political unit within the region, so if you're planning on sticking around, it might not be a bad idea to start figuring out your options. This is an important decision, however, and shouldn't be rushed. Often, we see people get too eager to be a part of a family, or people become a bit anxious to "adopt" or "marry" people into their family. Remember, you're going to be associated with the family throughout NS, and you're likely going to spend a fair amount of time with these people. Make sure the shoe fits.

Wait, marriage?

Yes, I did say marry into a family. A lot of people get NS married, some just simply stating that they are married and some going through elaborate ceremonies in a roleplay sort of way. But that's just it, it's roleplay. Marrying someone on NS isn't a statement or profession of love, and it's very important to separate the roleplay from the reality. The alternative is often messy, and sometimes harmful. Doing it the right way means that both parties have the same motivations for the marriage, and aren't going into the deal with different ideas of what's in store. If you get nothing else from this dispatch, please make sure you understand this: NationStates families are pretend families. You might be really close to your pretend relatives, but it's still pretend.

So why do NS Families matter?

This is something that you have to answer for yourself. Do you enjoy spending time with the members of your family? That matters. Does your family have a common goal you're trying to achieve? That matters. It's definitely not a requirement of NS to be in an NS Family, but if you enjoy it then it can become a huge bonus to the game. Another layer of stuff to do. Edlhus thinks that the NS Family is one of the more interesting parts of the game, which is why we decided to have it feature so heavily in our regional structure. If it piques your interest, even just a little, you should come and hang out.

Also, they are often a great place to seek mentorship. Most families have members that have played the game at a high level for a number of years, and a lot are more than willing to pass on some of their knowledge to new players. This can be a great boon to your career, as well as a way to avoid the many pitfalls of NS. It doesn't seem like the most complicated game on the surface, but it can be fairly difficult to traverse. NS families offer a helping hand a lot of the time, and can be the difference between you getting bored with the game and having a great experience.

If you have any further questions, please telegram Marcarius Halohin or Cthoria. We are more than happy to answer any that you may have, and we love welcoming new people into the game. This FAQ is an evolving document, and if we get a lot of questions about the same thing, we may add it to the dispatch. Thanks for taking the time to read. <3